Live Blogging Senate File 3309

OK - I'm back and they just voted on the A46 Amendment. Since I have no idea what it was about, I will just report that it not adopted 22-41.

Senator Vandeveer just put up the A50 amendment. It is to strike 125 plans from the bill. Apparently this is supported by small businesses. The amendment was not adopted 15-47.

I will not liveblog all the amendments....if there is anything interesting I will report back and the live blog debate on the amended bill.

Sen. VanDeVeer has an amendment up to remove the health reinvestment assessment (A49). He made a remark during the debate about how Minnesota is the only state that seems to think raising taxes in a down economy is a good thing. Needless to say the amendment was not adopted - 15 to 47.

Sen. Erickson Ropes is correct....an assessment is A TAX! Didn't we (as a state) learn our lesson last year with the "health impact fee"?????

Sen. Hann puts up an amendment to pull the BMI monitoring in children in the schools out of the bill. Roll call vote has been called. Sen. Bergland says that this is the "only" way to monitor how well the program is succeeding???? Ummmmm - and the doctors won't be monitoring that Senator????? Amendment was not adopted 22-44.

Debate on the bill has begun....Sen. Ortman called this a fraud being foisted on the state. She pointed out that the bill gives taxing authority to an UNACCOUNTABLE, UNELECTED bureaucrat - over the House and over the Senate and over the people!

Sen. Bergland calls this market based????? In what alternate universe??

Sen Hann the Senate to task for the intrusion into Joe and Jane Citizens life. He said that the government should not be in the business of telling people what activities they can and can not participate in (staying home reading versus walking 5 miles) and what they can and can not eat. He also expresses puzzlement at Sen. Bergland calling this bill "market based"...

The bill is passed 41-22.